Rep. Sean Duffy: House Republicans tired of being abused by Ted Cruz

Rep. Sean Duffy (R-Wis.) is the latest Republican to join in a battle against conservatives in the Senate, lashing out at Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and claiming the Tea Party darling “abused” House Republicans but won’t “get in the ring” in the fight to defund Obamacare.

Duffy appeared on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” on Friday morning to discuss the continuing resolution and efforts to stymie the Affordable Care Act’s implementation. The Wisconsin Congressman recounted the frustration felt by House Republicans — who decided to take up the measure as it stands — after Cruz backed away from efforts to defund Obamacare, putting it in the House’s hands.

“We were the punching bag and bullied by some of these Senate conservatives,” Duffy said. “…You should’ve been on the floor or back in the cloakroom. There was so much anger, so much frustration, because again, we’ve been abused by these guys for so long. And what I see happening now is people coming out now and calling them out for the hypocrisy of these big tough conservatives who know how to fight, but will never get in the ring,” he added.

Duffy noted his Senate counterparts “waved the white flag” and surrendered after the House decided to vote on the resolution with the addendum to defund the President’s healthcare law, effectively leaving Duffy and other Republicans to finish the fight Cruz started.

“They can hold a filibuster in the Senate if they want,” Duffy continued. “But they can’t hold the Senate conservatives together, and they keep trying to put this fight in the House, they can hold the Senate and have this fight as long as they want and they’re not willing to do it.”

During a press conference yesterday, Cruz said he would be filibuster the continuing resolution once it made its way to the Senate.

Duffy joins a legion of House Republicans who lashed out against Cruz. Rep. Pete King (R-N.Y.) told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer last night House Republicans should “stop letting Ted Cruz set our agenda for us,” and said working to defund Obamacare was a “kamikaze” mission.

Duffy, who appeared on “The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer” with King, agreed.

“I think it’s only fair that we in the House give them a package that defunds Obamacare and let them debate it over there, let them fight it over there,” Duffy said.